Janet K. Switzer

Switzer, Janet K.
Of Galesburg Age 65, passed away peacefully at her home on Monday, May 3, 2010 after a long illness. Janet was born September 12, 1944 in Lansing, Michigan the daughter of Herman and Marie M. Harris Debus. She was a 1962 graduate of Lansing Eastern High School and a 1965 graduate of Michigan State University. She was a Secondary Education Teacher in the Flint Kersley School District and the Armada Michigan School system a total of 4 ½ years. On September 4, 1965 she was united in marriage to Richard E. Switzer in East Lansing. In 1973 she and her husband purchased the funeral home in Galesburg and served that community for nearly 30 years. Jan was a member of both the Galesburg and Gulf Shores United Methodist Churches, the Prayer Shawl Knitting group, the Tea Leaf Club International China collection, the American Historical Society of Germans from Russia, the Tuesday Ladies Card Quartet in Gulf Shores and some local investment clubs. She was always a 'lady' and teacher in her daily life and a strong steadfast supporter of her family and community, usually quietly behind the scenes. The world of finance, investing and reading were her avocations and she always encouraged thrift and value as well as excellence in all she achieved and from all those in which she came in contact. She was a 19 year employee of Kalamazoo County Government, first in the Steno-pool then going from office to office for differing periods filling in for employees on leave, the last ten years as the Domestic Scheduling Coordinator for four judges in the Family Division of Circuit Court, retiring in 2001. She is survived by her husband, Richard; also surviving are two cherished children and their spouses, Jeffrey D. & Sheri Switzer, Mattawan, Lisa M. & Mark Eiseman, Evergreen, CO; 3 grand-daughters Alexandria & Samantha Switzer, Adelaigh Hannah Eiseman; her brother and sister-in-law Ronald & Linda Debus, Marion, IA; a special daughter, Jodi Clock, Muskegon; 2 uncles George & Marie Harris, Lincoln, NE, J. Peter Harris, Denver, CO; a niece and 2 nephews; a number of cousins and many special friends in Gulf Shores and throughout the United States. The family will welcome friends on Wednesday, May 5th from 5:30-8:00 pm and Thursday, May 6th from 2:00-4:00 pm and 6:00-8:00 pm at the Langeland Family Funeral Homes, Galesburg Chapel, 145 W. Battle Creek Street, where a funeral service will be held on Friday, May 7th at 11:00 am with Rev. Roger D. Green, Rev. Whitney Brown, Rev. Mary Curtis and Rev. Mona Joslyn officiating. Interment will follow on the family lot at Oak Grove Cemetery, Galesburg. Those who wish may make memorial contributions in Jan's memory to the Galesburg Memorial Library. Please visit Jan's memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can archive a memory, read her life story or make a memorial contribution.